Automatic balance for centrifugal pumps.



A. G. PAUL'SMEIER. AUTOMATIC "BALANCE FOR GENTRIFUGAL PUMPS. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.18. 1911,

,-i1,02.7,624r PatentedMay28, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' A; c. PAULS M EIER. I AUTOMATIC BALANCE FOR CBNTRIPUGAL PUMPS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18', 1911. 1,027,624, Patented-May28, 191-2 To all whom it may concern:

ALBERT c. mumsmnmnj or stamens, cnnironnm, ASSIGNOR 'ro'mrnou ancxngu.

IRON WORKS,'OI' BERKELEY, QAILIEOB NIA, Al CORPORATION OF Application filed September 18, 1 911. Serialli'o. 649,895..

' Be it known that If-AL EM C. PAutsMEmR,

' citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in thec-ounty of Alameda and State f i-jof California,' have invented new and useful Improvementsin Automatic Balances for Q'entrifugal' Pumps, of which the-following 1s a specification.

My. -invention' relates to I centrifugal p umps,and pertains especially to end-thrust counterbalancing means therefor. In deep wells where these pum sare used extensively a great deal of di culty has been met with by reason of the wear. caused on the fiecially where-fthe water carries'any sand factf it lias been found that [Working y water thatthe joints. lillf become so badly worn that it i requires almost-"constant attention to. keep the pump- 2in balan'ce. This is especially true where the surfaces of the running joints are circumferential]. and parallel with the 1 axis of the runner. i J

K One purp'" act the present :invention is to construct the pump with the so-called running joints or leakage joints betweenthe space of uncontrolledpressure, and the space of variable", pl aj ji'il'ef'in the pump so that ill*be ;apfiio2iiniately at right angles in he runnerjjiii' ther than parallel thereto as heretofore whereby as wear takes "as place" ts' mayautomatically take up witlto destroying the automatic :ba

3a v Another object is to provide means for making these wearin surfaces adjustable 40 so as to take upwear om time to time and keep the pump in proper balance.

Anoth'er object is to make the balancering of these pumps of such diameter, with respect to the-suction inlet, that the differ; 45 ence in area between the'tvgmlsidesof the impeller o topressure' will a be suflici'e" mpell r away from the suctio t "'e ma be the AUTOMATIC runner. ron cEnraIrUeAL puns.

Specification of Letters Patent. V

running joints of the runner and easing by the passage or. leakage-,of the water, es-- Se pumps arego erated at, highfisuction inlet.--

um acting in-the dij Patented my which will beapparenthereinafter;

as hereinafter. more fully described and mentary section showing a modification. 'Flg. 3 1s a similar new of anotherhmodfli:

view of the-removable wearlng ring.

In Fig. 1 which represents -'a yertical shaft pump installation for'fuse in deep upper shaft cover 2. 3 is an nnpellerfhav There are other objects and advantages I claimed, l}aving reference to the accompany? wells, A is the pump casing having the UNITED s AtgnsrATEN onn on f The'invention consists of th eparts-an d the construction'and combinat-lon'of parts r"-. l is a sectional tviewpshowingfa' vertical pump installation. Fig. 2-is a frag} .osj' cation. Fig; 4; is an enlarged fragmentarya ing the radialdischarge passa cs4. 5' is' a" top-of well of suitable length, and by. w

the pump is bolted or otherwise secured,and

able pressure chambegi from the s ace'12-on 1 runner an all that other space outsidethe trolled pressure of the discharge colum'n..

The present invention relates especially of water froin the zone of uncontrolled prespressuregcharnber 11, and the subsequent si es of the runner whereby thevpressure sufiicient to force the impellenglaj from direction or toward suction; In order escape o'fthiswater from thevariable res-' sure chamber back into the interior o -the;- runner; t ether with the means for rovid-g in for di erential of pressures on t e two 'on the suction side of the runner,,that ,is

to say, the pressure space-; 12, is always test possible vacuum tending in the op- "joifiplish these ends the nnaerf r im:

l side of the runner has a hollow hub 13- I to ming a running joint, with an inwardly 'zitendin flange 1% which is" carrieflby a T fifiov'ab e" I ring-plate .15. 1 As wear. takes] to the means for controlling the admission "sure outside the runner'into the variable: t

100' tlie suction even thoughltliere "may .be the,

I place on the contiguous surfaces'1413 replacements can easily be made by taking off the ring-plate 15 and substituting a new one with a flange 14 of proper size On the opposite side of the runner I employ a balance-ring 16 which is approximately of the same diameter as the impeller, and is so arranged and constructed that it will present a wearing surface substantially at right angles to the axis of the impeller and ordinarily will have a running contact with a like parallel surface or ring 17 at or ad- 'acent to the edge 'of 'the. impeller. This alance-ring 16 may be made angular in cross section and be adjustable'by suitable means as the bolts 18, or it may be fixed to the casing or casing cover-by suitable means as the bolt-s18, Fig. 2. j f

The complementary ring 17 on the runner overlaps the balance-ring 16, which latter occupies anannular channel or space hetween the ring 17 andthe adjacent face of the runner. Thetendency of the suction, and in the case of a vertical pump, the

weight of the shafting and other moving parts, 'is to force the runner downuntil the revolving ring 17 on the runner is. in running contact with the fixed balance-ring l6 on the casing. Opposed to this downward thrust, due to suction andgravity, is the upthrust, due to the weight of the column of water in the discharge pipe-of the pump.

The length of this discharge pipe or height to which the water is forced by the pump is commonly called the head or head withthe depth of-thewater in the well or s This upthrust, due to the weight of the colthe depth of s'ubmergence of the pump.

umn of water in the discharge, exerts-itself on the underside of the. impeller in chamber 12, and the-area on the underside of the runner exposed to this upthrust is great enough as before stated 'in' my improved .construction, to force the impeller always away from the suction; this being possible by making the balance-ring 16 of very much larger diameter than the diameter of the suction inlet 5. As a result of this u thrust pressure or backpressure of the disc arge column 7 a leakage takes place into the chamber 11 between 'the rings 16-17. In order to control this upthrust on the impeller, I provide'the following means for'relieving the accumulation of pressure in the variable pressure chamber 11: a

The hub of the runner oppositethe -suc-..

tion inlet is made hollow, or otherwise con: structed, to provide relief ports 19 which form communicating passages between the variable pressure chamber 11 and the radial vanes {1; these ports 19 entering the vane/s 1 in such a manner as to point partially in the direction of the 7 water pumped through the vanes 4. 1

In order to throttle the ports 19 I have shown in Fig. 1 an adjustable plug-20 which may be movedin and out, in the line of the shaft 8, andtoward or from the hub of the runner according to the leakage pressure between the parts 1617 or the variations of 1 head pumped against. This lug 20 is hollow and surrounds the shafting 8 and forms a packing-box with which the gland or bushing 2l cooperates. In cheap pumps where it is-not desired to make the plug adjustable it may form a fixed part of the cover, as shownat'QO Fig. 3. K

In Fig. 2 I have shown the plug in the form of a stationary, renewable,balance-plug ring 20; this .plug ring being held in place by suitable means such as the lock screw 22. In all cases the principle is the same; the throttling ofthe ports 19 being accomplished by the movement ofthe runner toward the 'plug 20 0r'20 or 20, or the adjacent wall" of the cover 2. When the runner moves toward the plug 20 or cover 2, it carries the balance-ring 17 farther awayfromthe balance-ring 16, thereby passing more water into the'variable pressure chamber 11 and lated in'chamber 11, overbalances the optends to move toward the suction inlet side,

posed pressure in the space 12 the runner thereby closing the leakage space between I the rings 16' 17 and opening wider the communication between chamber 11 and ports 19and giving relief to the pressurein the chamber 11 until a state of balance is restored. I l

Manifestly, the foregoing principles are applicable both for vertical and horizontal installations. By havingall wearing surfaces normal to the runner, all tendencyto' excess leakage,

due to wear of the running parts; is automatically compensated for; andnvhenever' any of the parts show a great deal of wear, such for instance as therings 16, 17 or 20*, or plug 20, the same maybe quickly re placed at small expense.

Having thusdescribed my invention,what I claim and desire to secure .by Letters Patent is 1. An automatic, hydraulic counterbalancefor a centrifugal pump, consisting ,inthe combination of: an incased runner, hav- 7 ing a central suction inlet. and a peripheral discharge; a case in which the runner is revoluble; the runner carrying on one side ward and from which the runner-fian e is movable according to the shifting o the runner axial in "the case; said flanges and the runner and casing inclos'ing a variable pressure chamber on the side opposite to the suction, and which chamber is in communian annular flange normal to the runner axis; the case hearing a corresponding flange to I v v cation with the. pump. discharge between, ,said, flanges, said @variable pressure chamber having a dischar e back-into the runner; and means contro ledby the shifting of the runner to vary the discharge from the variable pressure chamber into the runner, and said last-named -means constructed and arranged so that, as the flanges move closer together to shut off supply rof water from ythe'pump discharge into'the I sure chamber, the dischs rgi the variable pressure cham opening from the variable pressure chamber back into the r'unne'r is decreased. i

r Y 2., In a centrifugal pump, the combination 2b of a case having'a central mlet'a'nda periph eral discharge, a :shaft, an, impeller in the; case on the shaft, means formedby the-case;

"and the side o'f the impeller 'oppo'sitethe suc:

tion to inclose a variable pressure chamber receiving leakage water under pressure'from the discharge; through the running joint be tween the impeller and case, said, running joint consisting of twoannular opposed co'.-'

g acting surfaces which are normal tothe axis- '30 of the impeller, whereby thrust inone direc-J slilOh carries the two' surfaces toward each other and vice versathrust inthe opposite- V direction carries them :farther apart, said lvaria-ble pressure chamber having a reliefdischarge back into the impeller, and meansforming 'a variable throttle for said relish discharge, lastn'amed means adaptedto automatically increase the available area of the relief discharge in responseto the ap- 40 ;proach of said opposed surfaces, and to reduce the area ofthe relief discharge asthei space between said surfaces increases. j 3. In a centrifugal pump, the comb nation I of a case having acentral-inlet and a periph- 'eral discharge, a shaft, an impeller in the case on the shaft, means formed by thecase and the side of the impeller oppositejthe suction to inclose a variable pressure chamber receiving leakage waternnder pressurefrom" the discharge through the running joint between the impeller and case, said running joint consisting of two annular'opposed c0-.

' acting surfaces which are normal to the axis I of the impeller,'whereby thrust'in, onedirection carries the two surfaces toward each other and'vice versa thrust in' the opposite direction carries them fart-her'apart, said variable pressure chamberhaving a relief dis- -charge back into, the impeller, and means 0 forming aivariabl e throttle for said relief discharge, said last named means comprising amovable plug, saidplug co-acting with the impeller to increase the available area of the relief discharge simultaneously'with the apr j proach of said opposed surfaces, and to revariable pres "opening from, r back into therunneris increased; andfvice versa, when the flanges. move apart .to increase the water 15 supply to the. variable pressure-chamber from the-pump discharge, the" discharge son'with the recession of said surfaces.

4;; Ina centrifugal and the side of the impeller opposite-the suction carries them farther apart, and-saidvayvfrom a point outside'the case.

f5 Inf'a centrifugal pump, the combinaint c case onthe shaft, means formed by the case. and the side of the impeller. opposite-the suctionto inclose' a variable pressure chamberreceiving? leakage water under running joint. between the impeller and case, said running joint-consisting of two annulanopposed coacting surfaces which are'normal to; the' laxis of the impeller,

t QJsurfacestQWard each other and vice aversa thrust in the opposite'direction carries them farther aparh and'said variable pressure chamber having a relief discharge back central suction: let on'its underside in free suction having a running joint with the case, which running'joint isjin a cylindrical plane concentric withthe shaft, the opposite with the case, but which running joint is at running oint inclosing a chamber which ning joint opposite the suction being of sufficiently greater diameter than the running joint on the suction side as to cause the prestion' of acase' having a central inlet anda' v peri heral discharge, a shaft, an impeller pressure from' the discharge through the a com lementary rmg'. on. the case-one, of said rings adjustablefrom outside the case in the direction of the axis of the impeller.

6. A vertical' 'centrifugal'pump,;compris* ing a case, and a {runner witha vertical; shaft the' runner having an unrestricted communication'rlri'iththe runner vanes and. the runner supported on the lower end of. the shaft, the hub of the runner aroundthe right angles to the shaft, said last named leads back through the hub of the runner I into the suction ads of the latter,said rune duce the area of the relief discharge uni pump, the combination of a casehavlng a central inlet and a'periph-- eral discharge,' a shaftpan, impeller -inthecase onthe shaft, means formed by-the case riable pressure chamber having a relief dis- J harge back into the impeller, one of"said surfaces comprising a ring on theimpeller, and,thecthena complementary ring on the case, and, means whereby one of ,said rings e adj usted. relativelyto the other ring whereby one-direction carries the into the.impellerioneof'said surfaces comv prising a ring onithe lmpeller, and the other side of the runner having a runnlng joint I sure in the pump discharge to force the run ner in the direction opposite to the suction inlet no matter how great the vacuum is toward the suction, and means forming a "variable throttle for the discharge from said chamber back through the hub of the runner, said means operating to increase the available area of the discharge simultaneously with the closing of the secondnamed joint, and reducing the area of the discharge simultaneously with the opening of'said joint.

7. A centrifugal pump, comprising a case, and a runner with a shaft, the runner havmg an unrestricted central suction inlet'in free communication with the runner vanes and the runner supported on the nd of the shaft, the hub of the runner arou d the suction having a running joint with the case,

which running joint is in a cylindrical plane concentric with the shaft, the opposite side of the runner having a running joint with the case, butwhich running joint is at right angles to the shaft, said last named running joint inclosing a chamber which leads back through the hub of the runner into the suction side of the latter, said running joint opposite the suction being of sufliciently greater diameter than the running joint on the suction side as to cause the pressure in the pump discharge to force the runner in the direction opposite to the suction inlet no matter how great the vacuum is toward the suction, and means forming a variable throttle for the discharge from said chamber back through the hub of the runner, said means operating to increase the available area of the discharge simultaneously with the closing of the second-named joint, and reducing the area of the discharge simultaneously with the opening of said j oint;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the witnesses.

ALBERT O. PAULSMEIER, Witnesses:

G. A. DUBOIX, G. H. POULL.

presence of, two subscribing Copies of this patent may be obtained for five tents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

5 Washington, D. G. 

